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15 November 2017

FEATURE: November's Kickstarter projects to watch

Best and weirdest

Let's dive right into
the rabbit hole that is the mass of currently-running Kickstarter
tech projects. To get in on the ground floor with tomorrows big
technology products, back one of these babies. This month we have a
games console you code yourself, a camera mount that follows you
around, and also a robot you can cuddle. Yay!

Pip

This is a handheld
gaming device that kids can code themselves. Using either
drag-and-drop programming, or a laptop to mess with the code
directly, they can create games, run tasks, and set it to run
alongside other connected tech. Powered by a Raspberry Pi, the Pip
looks to be versatile and plenty of fun.

This is a cuddle robot,
basically. Well, the actual intention of Somnox is to improve the
quality of your sleep by regulating your breathing, playing soothing
sounds, and giving you something soft to cuddle. The Somnox rises and
falls just like a human chest, which will make your body mimic the
movement, improving your breathing rate. Which although that sounds
creepy, could help fight insomnia and disturbed sleep. So definitely
not a sex robot, then.

This is a connected
telescope designed to work with a smartphone app and be up 1000 times
more effective than traditional telescopes. eVscope uses a large
mirror and a low light sensor to get fascinating images of the
cosmos, instead of an array of lenses. As well as being controlled by
your app, you can also take instructions from SETI to look at a
specific object in the sky, therefore meaning thousands of people
across the globe can contribute data to make discoveries. Which
sounds pretty awesome.

This sounds really
cool. As well as being a camera stabilising gimbal mount, Taro can
also track a fast moving object, keeping it constantly in shot. This
means that you can could film something or someone without even
looking at them, as the Taro would track a small sensor on the
subject. You could also use it to film yourself – going fully hands
free and having the camera move with you. See, very cool.

Migo is the world's
smallest portable 3D printer. As well as being wee and light, it can
also print very finely detailed objects, and do so quickly. The Miga
features WiFi so can be controlled by the app on your phone while
you're on the other side of the planet. Why you'd want to do that, we
don't know, but it does look really cool, and a 3D printer that kids
could carry around, set up, and then use sounds great.

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The Test Pit is a place where all manner of things get tested... often to destruction. Gadgets, technology, toys, and clothing - all are fair game in the Pit. Our reviews are honest, jargon-free, and funny. Well, we try...